Attention is also turning to a vitally important January window, as Sunderland look to cement their play-off place under new head coach Michael Beale. It has been an unusual first half of the campaign, with the Black Cats doing well to maintain their form despite the loss of Amad and Ross Stewart. And yet there has also been an inconsistency that has led to some bitterly disappointing results and big missed opportunities.
The underlying data suggests Sunderland are one of the strongest teams in the division, and yet they haven’t always found it easy to turn that into results and particularly against struggling sides. So how do the decisions taken by the club and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman now stand up to scrutiny? And what does it tell us about what as to happen next? We take a closer look, deal by deal...
17. ELLIOT EMBLETON (OUT, DERBY COUNTY)
This looked like a good chance for Embleton to get up to speed in a good side and at a good level. Just unbelievably bad luck to pick up an injury in a training session, while taking a corner of all things. Fingers crossed for better luck in the second half of the season, and perhaps Embleton can yet have an impact on Sunderland's play-off push. Photo: FRANK REID
18. LYNDEN GOOCH (OUT, STOKE CITY)
Not an easy one to judge, in truth. Sunderland have fared OK in the full back areas this season, mainly thanks to Niall Huggins' outstanding form before he suffered a serious injury. Without him, Sunderland would have been left very light indeed at full back as a result of Gooch's departure. As we write now, the decision is easier to understand with Pembele and Alese fit and firing, and Cirkin hopefully not far behind. Still, that Gooch has already made such a big impression at Stoke City is a reminder of his tenacity, experience and quality - attributes any squad could always do with more of. Sunderland did, we should also say, get a very solid fee for a player in the last year of their deal. 5/10 Photo: Martin Swinney
19. ROSS STEWART (OUT, SOUTHAMPTON)
There are two key aspects when judging this exit. The first is the obvious disappointment that Stewart’s contract ran down without Sunderland being able to agree an extension. The second is then judging the deal from the perspective of him being a player in the last year of his deal and still sidelined due to injury. To get a deal worth £8 million with potentially £4 million further to be realised in add-ons (some of that latter figure is guaranteed) clearly represented very, very good business . By the end of the summer window Sunderland had a pretty poor hand but they played it well. It's also true that his departure has left a gap in the squad still not yet filled - can those funds help address that in the January window? 8.5.10 Photo: Frank Reid
20. ADIL AOUCHICHE (IN, FC LORIENT)
Aouchiche has been a bit of an enigma in the early stages of his Sunderland career. At times, and mostly it has been when used as an impact substitute, he has looked a real find and a nightmare for opposition defenders to pick up. He should probably have a few more goals to add to his tally of one, which reflects well on his ability to pick up good positions both inside and outside the box. When starting games, though, he hasn't been able to really show his best and for now - it's hard to argue with Pritchard or Bellingham getting the nod. 6/10 Photo: Frank Reid